QA/QC Leader - Cured Meats Co - Chicagoland
Location: US, IL, Chicago
Department: Quality
Employment type: Full-time
Required experience: Mid-Senior level
Required education: Master's Degree
Industry: Food & Beverages
Function: Quality Assurance

Company profile:
ABOUT VERTO Verto Partners is a premier corporate performance acceleration firm that works with middle market companies - between $10M to $1B in revenue - across 28 industry sectors. Verto works with or on behalf of management, Boards of Directors, or investors to effect transformative changes in companies facing challenges such as high growth, stagnant performance, or decline. Verto's services include strategy, operations transformation, interim management, deal support, business development, capitalization, and human capital.   #URL_c9847e5a3b1d35edc0cb45391a3165ba47e17069e405f17eb811877ac37227a7#

Job description:
Verto Partners has been retained by one of our clients, a growing cured meats company, to assist in finding a Leader for the Quality function.Responsibilities:The Quality Leader will direct his/her energies to the creation and management of company quality standards in incoming material inputs, operational processing, and outgoing products.  The Leader will be expected to focus primarily on scientific findings, research and development, statistical testing, and new product development.  The Quality Leader will contribute to the overall success of the company as a member of the Senior Management Team through the identification and timely execution of strategic initiatives, usually in conjunction with other departments.  In particular, the Quality Leader will:Develop quality assurance plans by:conducting hazard analysesidentifying critical control points and preventive measuresestablishing critical limits, monitoring procedures, corrective actions, and verification proceduresmonitoring inventorieswriting and updating quality assurance procedurescollecting, analyzing and summarizing information and trends including failed processes, stability studies, recalls, corrective actions, and re-validationsAssure consistent quality of production by:developing, enforcing, and validating good automated manufacturing practice (GAMP) systemsestablishing product specifications and quality attributesmeasuring production and documenting evidencedetermining operational and performance qualificationsEnsure rigid regulatory compliance by:building professional relationships with USDA representativesmaintaining a current working knowledge of all regulationspassing all audits and performing necessary testingresponding promptly and completely to non-compliance reports through corrective action or appeals in the best interest of the Companydetermining operational and performance qualificationsconducting appropriate environmental testing and enforcing controlsMaintain and improve product quality by:completing product, company, system, compliance, and surveillance auditsinvestigating customer complaintscollaborating with other members of management to develop new products, manufacturing and training methodsestablishing vendor relations to develop and create products that meet label requirementsAchieve quality assurance operational objectives by:contributing information and analysis to strategic plans and reviewspreparing and completing action plansimplementing production, productivity, and quality initiatives/changesidentifying and resolving problemscompleting auditsdetermining system improvementsMeet quality assurance financial objectives by:estimating requirementspreparing an annual budgetscheduling expendituresanalyzing variancesinitiating corrective actionsFacilitate new product research and development by:working closely with Demand Team to initiate, create, develop, and test products through to productiondocumenting new product development processadvocating for continuous improvement of process developmentPromote a collaborative team environment by:maintaining constructive working relationships with every element of the Companyshowing respect for all team memberssupporting a team environment within and outside of the departmentestablishing effective communicationsexpeditiously resolving problems

Requirements:
Required Skills/Qualifications:Bachelor's degree in Meat Science, Food Science or Related Field5+ years experience in food processing, especially meat processingKnowledge of food and particularly meat microbiologyExperience interacting regularly with USDA personnelExtremely detail-orientedSelf-starter that embraces individual accountabilityAnalytical and process-orientedCustomer-focusedResults-drivenNice to HaveMaster’s degree in Meat Science, Food Science or Related Field

Benefits:
The role has a base salary of $60,000 - $80,000, depending on the degree to which requirements are met or exceeded, plus bonus and benefits, including health care.